33 Majestic And Powerful Lion Tattoo Designs

Looking for a magnificent tattoo to get inked on your body? Consider getting a lion tattoo! Although lion tattoos are pretty common, their popularity never seems to fade away. The availability of numerous design options and unique shade work makes them even more exceptional.

Like in the animal kingdom, the lion is the king in the world of animal tattoo designs as well. The lion has been depicted in astrology as the Leo sign and in Greek mythology as Manticore. Considered to be intellectual, cautious, and highly-skilled animals, lions signify strength, bravery, royalty, knowledge, power, faith, stability, change, and family. The Romans considered the lion as a symbol of love.

The Egyptians considered lions as a representation of balance. The Chinese use the lion as a symbol of good luck and protection. In various religions, lions have been used to symbolize hope and certain beliefs. Christianity uses the lion as an emblem of their faith. In Islam, the lion and sword represent power. In Hinduism, it is believed to be the sacred animal that carries the deity Durga. The lion is said to represent the sun god as well. As the lion’s golden mane resembles the sun rays, many ancient cultures considered lions as sacred symbols of transformation from childhood to adulthood.

Fascinating, isn’t it?

To help you pick your lion tattoo, we have compiled a list of the 33 best lion tattoo designs. Check them out!

4. 3D Leo Lion Arm Tattoo

Put a seasoned tattoo artist to the test with this hyper-realistic tattoo design of a fierce lion in action. The details on the canines and eyes make it look almost three-dimensional. The stopwatch below the lion symbolizes the value of time.

Preferable Ink Color: This realistic tattoo looks best when done with shades of black and dark brown. The details are filled in with a coffee brown shade to give it a sepia-tinted look.

Where: This tattoo fits on the outer calf perfectly, making it easy to flaunt when you wear shorts.

Size: Get this tattoo done from your ankle to your knee.

Skin Tone: The elaborate shade work makes it ideal for skin complexions ranging from ivory to almond tones.

9. Tribal Lion Tattoo

This unique design of a lion in tribal headgear represents the chief of a tribe. Making the king of the jungle wear a tribal chief’s headgear is symbolic of its royal position. The rose at the base of the tattoo adds to its glamor.

Preferable Ink Color: This design makes extensive use of black ink. The highlights are done using a subtle peach shade.

Where: This tattoo looks best on your forearm.

Size: This design stretches from the base of your elbow to your wrist.

Skin Tone: Light skin tones, ranging from porcelain to beige, are great for sporting this tattoo.

10. Lion Wrist Tattoo

If you want to keep your tattoo small, this is the perfect design for you. The elegant shading and use of curved strokes make this tattoo even more appealing.

• Preferable Ink Color: This wrist tattoo is done in plain black ink with different sizes of needles to make it look even more authentic. • Where: This small design is ideal for your wrist. It makes the tattoo easily visible and ready to flaunt. • Size: The uniqueness of the tattoo lies in the small area it covers. It is best done on an area of 6 cm2. • Skin Tone: This design is ideal for complexions ranging from beige to honey.

11. Lion Pride Tattoo

This marvelous piece of art will turn your skin into a live canvas. This beautiful rendering of a lion along with its pride is just the treat you want to give to your skin. A pride of lions symbolizes the love and care of a family.

Preferable Ink Color: The monotone design with distinct shading makes it the perfect tattoo to be etched in pitch-black ink•

Where: This tattoo design requires a large area for extensive shading and detailing. The upper back is best for this tattoo.

Size: This design requires an area of no less than 20 cm2.

Skin Tone: This design is best suited for skin tones ranging from ivory to honey.

12. Chinese Lion Tattoo

The Chinese lion is depicted in its own unique way. The curled up mane and stout broad features set it apart from the regular depictions of the lion. The Chinese considered lion tattoos as a symbol of good luck and protection. The beautiful shading and intricate detailing make this tattoo a head-turner.

Preferable Ink Color: This tattoo has a monotone base with a slight pink tinge to highlight its movement.

Where: The distinct shape of the lion and background elements like the lotus, clouds, and waves make your bicep the perfect place to flaunt this tattoo.

Size: This tattoo extends from your bicep until your elbow.

Skin Tone: This tattoo looks best on skin tones ranging from porcelain to beige.

15. Fierce Lion Tattoo

A roaring lion is a symbol of divine strength. This design is one-of-a-kind, and the unique design and color choice makes it an absolute head-turner. It is the perfect mixture of modern art and western tattooing style. The design features a roaring lion colored in rich cyan and orange hues. The geometric ripples in the background and the owl under the lion take this piece of body art to a whole new level.

Preferable Ink Color: This tattoo is best done with black outlines and highlighted with orange and cyan.

Where: The vertical dimension of this design requires an elongated body part. Hence, the side of your leg is the best option.

22. Colorful Lion Tattoo

If you want splashes of color to make your tattoo look even more interesting, this is the perfect piece of art for you. The striking color variation in the background of the lion head makes it a unique piece of abstract art.

Preferable Ink Color: The beauty of this tattoo lies in playing with bright colors and letting them overlap each other to form different shades.

Where: This tattoo looks best on your outer arm.

Size: This design covers the area from your bicep till your elbow.

Skin Tone: The rich color palette of this tattoo makes it ideal for skin tones ranging from beige to almond.

27. Tribal Lion Tattoo Designs

If you are a fan of tribal art, this tattoo is sure to impress you. This intricate design features the side profile of a lion. The tattoo is filled in with mandala art, which makes it look even more attractive.

Preferable Ink Color: Get this incredibly detailed tattoo done in shades of black and gray.

Where: This tattoo fits best on your inner arm.

Size: The tattoo spreads horizontally from your bicep to your elbow.

Skin Tone: The black palette of this tattoo makes it ideal for all skin tones.

31. Lion Hand Tattoo

If you are a fan of Gothic art, this antique tattoo design of a lion head door handle is sure to win your heart. The dark palette of the tattoo along with the inverted triangle enhances the vintage beauty of the art.

32. Floral Lion Tattoo

Flowers help bring out the feminine goddess in you. Pairing them with a lion adds to the royalty of the design. This beautiful line tattoo of a lion surrounded by cherry blossoms and a blooming chrysanthemum at the bottom screams opulence.

Preferable Ink Color: This tattoo looks best with a black outline and pink shading on the flowers.

Where: This design looks best on your forearm, stretching from the elbow to the wrist.

Size: The elongated design covers an area of 20 cm x 10 cm.

Skin Tone: This design looks best on skin tones ranging from porcelain to warm beige.

Size: The tattoo covers the entire forearm, from the elbow to the wrist.

Skin Tone: This design looks best on wheatish complexions.

Getting a tattoo can be nerve-wracking. Therefore, it’s best to follow all safety precautions before and after getting it to make sure it heals quickly. Check out this article to find out how to prep your skin before getting a tattoo and some post-care maintenance tips.

That was our list of the coolest lion tattoo designs for you. Hope they inspire you to come up with the ideal design for yourself. Let us know which of these lion tattoo designs stole your heart in the comments section below